I can't open iPhoto. A window comes up saying "iphoto will not open in use by another application or is unreadable"

It happened the first time I opened iPhoto on my computer. I really need to sync photos from my iPod and iPhone to my computer but I can't without iPhoto. Thanks for your help.

Read here:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3723060?start=0&tstart=0

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I was trying to move iphoto library to my external hardrive, realised it was incompatible with Mac. The iphoto will not open now, message is "Iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I have read other posts.

Hi,
I was trying to save a copy of my iphoto library by copying images to my external harddrive. I wasn't sure how to do it, realised the hard drive is not compatible. Now the iphoto library wont open and reads "iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".
I have tried to use options command and click on iphoto then rebuild yet nothing happens and same error message occurs.
I have gone to my personal drive, desktop, iphoto library, and found file Albumdata.xml and when i click on it, there is a lot of text in it, i am assuming these are all my photos.
I have tried clicking and dragging this file to iphoto app and it doesn't work, as the same error comes up in iphoto being in use or unreadable....
What am I meant to do with albumdata.xml file and how do I reopen Iphoto from here on in?
Please help as I am not technically minded and still trying to understand how to use the Macbook at all as I am used to Microsoft.
Thank you very much,
KS

Rule Number One - NEVER go directly uinto the iPhoto library - there are no user servicable parts in it and making any change no matter how small can corrupt your library and cause data or photo loss
Exactly how were you trying to save a copy of your iPhoto library?
Albumdata.xml does not contain your photos - and again NEVER make any changes to the content of the iPhoto library - no dragging - no changes - never go into the library
We need to know exactly what you did
And probalby the easiest solution is to load your backup from before you messed things up
For reference after you get things working
Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
LN

My iPhoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable - what do I do?

My iPhoto will not open. I get this message My iPhoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. I have tried holing down the option & command keys when I open it and it gives me options to rebuild thumbnails and I get this message when I try to click on that and start

where is your iPhoto library located? What version of iPhoto? try the command-Option-launch and rebuild your database
LN

How do I restore my iPhoto. When I open i get a window dialog "Your iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable shut down and restart your computer. If problem persists, try rebuilding your iphoto library. To do th

When I try to open iPhoto I get a window dialog that says...
Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable
Shut down and restart your computer, and then open iPhoto again. If the problem persists, try rebuilding your photo library. To do this, quit iPhoto, and then reopen it while keeping the Option and Command keys pressed. You can also try restoring your photo library from a backup.
I have tried the reopen it while keeping the Option and Command keyes pressed.
No change.
I dee nothing but a blank page,
Any help would be appreciated.
Also hace back ups of all images on cd's. dvds and jump drives.
Any advice is appreciated.

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

I can't attach a document if it is open "in use by another application"

If I try to attach a word document in Windows Live Hotmail, it says the document is in use by another application. I have to close the application to attach it. This just started recently.

Hi,
one cannot. Application runs in black box and does not know a lot of things. So when "getCamera" is returning null there are dozens of possible reasons: use by other application is one of them and other includes camera not being plugged in, camera being plugged in but not switched on, etc.
I think that checking Camera.names" length will ensure that there is at least one enabled camera input on system btw. Showing security panel for Camera could let user to make correction in what camera is to be used by runtime, etc.
regards,
Peter

Iphoto will not launch after lion and iPhoto upgrade

"your iPhoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable
Shut down and restart your computer, and then open iPhoto again. If the problem persists, try rebuilding your photo library. To do this, quit iPhoto, and then reopen it while keeping the Option and Command keys pressed. You can also try restoring your photo library from a backup.
This is the message i get after paying apple3 0 dollars for the lion upgrade and 14.99 iphoto upgrade. Can you now help fix?? you have my money. Now give me back my computer

Do as the instructions tell you.
Hold down the Option and Command keys and launch iPhoto at the same time.
You'll see a dialog box open.
Select: Repair Database
Or, restore from a backup.
FYI, Apple's policy states that, "all sales are final" > iTUNES STORE - MAC APP STORE - TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Iphoto will not open, black screen comes up and will not let me rebuild. what do i do to fix this problem?

this is the message that comes up when i try to rebuild it or do anything to it as far as opening iphoto:
your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable
… shut down and restart your computer then open iPhoto again. if that problem persist. try rebuilding your photo library. to do this, quit iPhoto and then reopen it while keeping the option and command keys pressed. you can also try restoring your photo library from a back up.

Remember to hold both the alt and command keys while launching to get the rebuild menu.
If that fails then your options are
Restore from your back up
or
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.

Iphoto will not open. how can i fix it?

iphoto will not open when i click on it. my photos are still on my computer but i cant see them in iphoto. i tried to repair disk permissions but nothing happened. i really don't want to loose my pics. what should i do?

What happens when you click on iPhoto? Does it bounce in the Dock? Do nothing at all? What version of iPhoto are you running?
Assuming you're running iPhoto 11 make a temporary, duplicate copy of the library and try the three fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your Home/Library/Preferences folder.
delete iPhoto's cache files that are located in your Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.
reboot, launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding the the Option key. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
Fix #2
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library.
Select options #1, #2 and #6.
Fix #3
Rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

I have a os x 10.6.8 and my iphoto will not open just has the searching icon on it all the time, can anyone help?

I have an os x 10.6.8 and my iphoto will not open, just has the searching icon going round & round! Can anyone help?

backup your iPhoto library and launch iPhoto while holding the option and command keys down until the first aid window appears - repair your database and if necessary rebuild the database
LN

Certain events in iPhoto will not sync to my iPad. No Error messages comes up and the photos themselves are ok. its like my ipad doesn't see them. Cause i can get some photos on there just not all.

certain events in iPhoto will not sync to my iPad. No Error messages comes up and the photos themselves are ok. its like my ipad doesn't see them. Cause i can get some photos on there just not all. Photos are from the same camera and should all be in the same format.

What is the file name of the video(s) you want to sync?
Another way. You can use a USB flash drive & the camera connection kit.
Plug the USB flash drive into your computer & create a new folder titled DCIM. Then put your movie/photo files into the folder. The files must have a filename with exactly 8 characters long (no spaces) plus the file extension (i.e., my-movie.mov; DSCN0164.jpg).
Now plug the flash drive into the iPad using the camera connection kit. Open the Photos app, the movie/photo files should appear & you can import. (You can not export using the camera connection kit.)
Secrets of the iPad Camera Connection Kit
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57401068-285/secrets-of-the-ipad-camera-conn ection-kit/
 Cheers, Tom

I can't open iPhoto. Message reads "Your Photo Library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".

I can't open iPhoto. Message reads "Your Photo Library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".

Try the following:
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down to open the First Aid window. Be sure to follow the circled recommendation in the screenshot.
2 - run Option #4, Rebuild Database.

IPhoto will not load the iPhoto library. When I select "show all windows" the library does appear but cannot open it. I am on version 8.1.2 and using Maverick.

iPhoto will not load the iPhoto library. When I select "show all windows" the library does appear but cannot open it. I am on version 8.1.2 and using Maverick.

I was able to get it fixed. I had received some responses and they had me
recreate the library I believe. It's been a while so I cant remember
exactly what I did. I have since upgraded to the latest i photo version and
have had no problems with it.
Brian
On Friday, November 7, 2014, Apple Support Communities Updates <

Iphoto will not open, says I am useing a newer version, beats me, I can't find it, anyone out there have a clue, Thanks

Iphoto will not open, says I am useing a newer version, beats me, I can't find it, anyone out there have a clue, Thanks

Try the following:
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
2 - Run Option #4, Rebuild Database.
OT

Iphoto will not open only color wheel shows how can i open it.

My iphoto will not open only the color wheel pops up, how can I open my iphoto?

Before anyone can help, they need information to work with. Basic stuff:
- What version of iPhoto.
- What version of the Operating System.
- Details. What were you doing when the problem arose?
- Did it ever work properly?
- Are there error messages?
- What steps have you tried already to solve the issue.
Anything else you can think of that might allow someone else to understand your issue.
With this kind of information somebody can develop a starting point for troubleshooting the issue.
Posts that consist of "iPhoto doesn't work. Help" or "iPhoto won't print" or "Suddenly I have no photos!!!!!!!!!!" mean that any helper is simply guessing. With information, s/he may be able to get your issue resolved sooner.

I get this message when I try to open iphoto: Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. What can I do?

I get this message when I try to open iphoto: Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. What can I do?

restart your system
if that does not resolve it backup youoriPhoto librtary, depress the option and command keys, launch iphoto and rebuild the database
also report the version of iPhoto and on the OS please
LN

I can't open iPhoto. A window comes up saying "iphoto will not open in use by another application or is unreadable"

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